UK EU summit must simplify trade says Chamber

Talks with the EU on a ‘reset’ of its relationship with the UK need to alleviate import and export processes for businesses, East Midlands Chamber has said.

Taking place on 19th May, the summit was expected to address issues ranging from defence to international trade.

East Midlands Chamber Head of International Trade Lucy Granger said: “We need to be in a much better position than we are now, where businesses that import or export face a mountain of red tape just to get goods moved in or out of the EU.  The talks cannot just be polite conversation; they need to result in meaningful change that reduces the costs and burden of paperwork for businesses.

“Firms importing or exporting food or plants would greatly benefit from an easing of regulations, while getting back into the Pan Euro Mediterranean Convention would be a huge help by eliminating export tariffs that come from rules on raw materials and components not being aligned. If an exemption can be achieved too from fiscal representation on VAT in the EU, that would be a good step forward.”